Dr. Yan McRae

Ambato, Ecuador, February 2006
Coya, Peru, February 2006

Yan fondly remembers carrying the children in his arms from the OR to recovery and passing their grateful families in the hallway.


 

Dr. Nathan Hess

Ambato, Ecuador, Spring 2007

“All these kids and parents were so grateful. I think we did a really good job. … Most of the kids left the hospital pain free.”

“A lot of the equipment had been brought down from (OHSU), but there were challenges and things we had to deal with that are never an issue here. It forced us to think on our feet and improvise.”

Dr. Grace Chen

Coya, Peru, Spring 2007

“I was born in a third world country where health care is not as advanced. I traveled extensively prior to residency and saw health care delivery inequitable in foreign countries. I have always dreamed of doing something for those people.”

“It teaches us to be resourceful, autonomous, and respectful. It also gives us the chance to be the doctors that we set out to be when we applied for medical school — to help people who cannot help themselves.”

Dr. Esther Sung

Coya, Peru, September 2007

“It was rewarding to apply what I have learned at OHSU during residency to aid these people, and it reminded me of why I went into the field of medicine. The need for this help is evident in that many of the Peruvians whom we treated often traveled great distances to receive the care we pro­vided. What moved me the most about the experience, however, was the gratitude they expressed for our work. Even the language barrier could not mask our patients’ sincere appreciation for the services we provided.”

Dr. Miko Enomoto

Coya, Peru, Spring 2008

"Over five days we did 31 surgeries for patients ranging in age from 3 months to 42 years. It's amazing how a smile from a child with a newly repaired cleft lip, or the tears of joy from his mother, can change your life."







 

Dr. Roger Coleman